Ardmolich

Rugged trails through the remote beauty of Moidart

The Gaelic 'Aird Molach' means the scrubby height, which is the perfect description for these rocky wooded hills. Exploring the trails here gives you a taste of Loch Moidart's drama, beauty and remoteness.

Meander through mature conifer woodland out onto a rocky hillside. Wonderful views open up across Loch Moidart to the distant islands of Rùm, Muck and Eigg. These woods are home to noisy flocks of crossbills, coal tits and goldcrests. If you’re very lucky, there’s a chance you may see a golden eagle soaring overhead.

You'll also notice that fast-growing conifers are slowly being replaced at Ardmolich by native trees like oak, birch and rowan. Oakwoods once grew all along the Atlantic coast from Norway to Spain and Portugal. Fragments of these rare and important ancient woodlands have survived across Sunart. We are helping to conserve and restore them.

The road winds through the small settlements of Ardmolich and Kinlochmoidart at the head of the loch. Beside the road just north of Kinlochmoidart, you'll see three large beech trees in a row. These are the last of 'The Seven Men of Moidart'. Seven beech trees were planted over 200 years ago to commemorate Bonnie Prince Charlie's seven companions, who travelled with him from France in 1745. The Prince raised his standard at Glenfinnan in a dramatic act that began the uprising known as the Second Jacobite Rebellion.